AWMA and the National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO) issued a joint letter last week to all 435 U.S. representatives outlining the serious concerns both organizations have with the pending bill – H.R. 1108 – in Congress to grant the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) authority to regulate tobacco products.  “While a number of companies and organizations have recently changed their positions and decided to support this bill, we remain vigorously opposed to it,” said AWMA President Scott Ramminger. “In fact, AWMA members will be taking this message directly to their elected officials on May 7-8 during AWMA’s Day on the Hill program.”

The collective memberships of AWMA and NATO are comprised of tobacco wholesalers, tobacco stores and other retailers – including convenience stores – that sell tobacco products.  As national wholesale and retail trade organizations representing thousands of family-owned businesses in all 50 states, AWMA and NATO told the members of Congress that H.R. 1108 would grant the FDA “sweeping, virtually unlimited power to adopt future regulations which will severely impact the wholesale and retail industries we represent.”